French Toast and Greek Values
Chanukah is, without a doubt, my absolute favorite holiday.
Firstly can we talk about fried foods? I mean, priorities. In our family we have an unofficial - yet adhered to with fanatical extremism - custom to eat a different fried food every night. So french toast, latkes, doughnuts, french fries, pancakes, the possibilities are endless. It's a hard custom but someone's gotta keep the tradition alive.
Second, family time. We all huddle around the candles and light the candles. We sing and dance and say the blessings. We head over to my in-laws and spend time with cousins. We stay up too late and laugh too loud. It's awesome.
And third... the meaning of this holiday. In the winter, when it's so dark out; we take a small flame and light up the darkness. We open our curtains and show the world that we are proud to be Jewish. We are undeterred by the fact that we're small - that didn't deter the Maccabees. We are unintimidated by the prevailing host culture, just as the Jews resisted Greek overtures. We have our own rules, our own holidays, our own songs. We are small but mighty. We are fighters. We are survivors. We are Jews. We are proud.
Chanukah is an opportunity to reflect on our own American experience - in a way so similar to the Greek culture. Here too, religion is frowned upon, while culture, physical fitness, and the arts are valued. We can be grateful for the benevolence of the American government in allowing us to practice our religion without harassment (unlike the Greeks), while recognizing that that very benevolence and acceptance is also a danger to our survival. We can learn Torah, we can practice another religion, we can study hard and achieve in any profession we choose. The permissiveness is our greatest blessing and our greatest curse. It's on us to choose.
Let's use this Chanukah to ask ourselves: what will my children remember about Chanukah in my home? What do I remember about Chanukah in my home, growing up? Let's mindfully and consciously choose Chanukah!
And don't forget the fried foods. That's very important.
Shabbat Shalom and Chanukah Same'ach,
Ruchi Koval
